Poetry Friday - More Than A Lucky Penny!

                                                       SPECIAL NOTE! I work at the bookstore every Thursday afternoon, so I will not be here until about 7pm (mountain time). I hope all goes well, and will check the Inlinkz from time to time. 

           Welcome, welcome, to Poetry Friday, one week until spring, a Friday, the thirteenth! Are you prepared to face any superstitions? I remember one of my grandfathers, wise in many ways, was very attuned to his own. I know that if one finds a penny, it's good to keep it in your pocket for good luck. When I was young and there seemed to be lots of clover in our yards, my friends and I spent time looking for four-leafed clovers. And lately, the bookstore was painted and ladders were everywhere. Did I walk under any of them? NO! 

        On one Friday, the 13th a long time ago, I shared a poem of superstition if you'd like to read it! Find it here!

        I am not ignoring the terrible things happening in our world; they feel as if they're always on my mind. I'm rarely looking forward to the morning's news, but I don't look away, start there each morning, reluctant or not. And, I work to find one something I can do to help. From Ben Franklin, to have said "We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.” at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I take my inspiration. 

          This, however, is not about 'knocking on wood' to make things better. Whether they are our enemies or allies, someone is missing loved ones. 

the rain

like teardrops falling

from one cloudy sky

filled with angels 

 

Linda Baie ©

          

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Wondering Why We Do What We Do

          I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community today. It's always a pleasure to read what everyone writes about their lives.

         “We do what we do, because of who we are. If we did otherwise, we would not be ourselves.” Neil Gaiman

         Because I'm a teacher and a writer, I observe and wonder about many things. Today as I worked in my garden, my thoughts turned to an old story, then to my own actions.

            

        One of the stories that has been passed around concerns a "reason why something is done", rather like a tradition, but smaller. A family member asked a mom in the family why she always took the bone out of the Sunday roast? She answered, because my mother did. They found her mother and asked the same question. She didn't know either, just did it after watching her own mother prepare the roast. Luckily 'her' mother still lived, so was asked that question. She looked up and said: "I didn't have a pan big enough for a big roast so had to remove the bone so it would fit."

         I thought of this story today and began to think about certain things I do, "just because", or perhaps they come from years of growing up with watching others live their lives. Some I understand; some are mysteries.

SOLC # 13 & Poetry Friday collide - Fri. the 13th trick!

Day Thirteen of the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Challenge. I'm also blogging with students at Linda & Jonathan's Class Blog           Tweet at #SOL15

                Thanks to Tara, Dana, Anna, Betsy, Beth and Stacey for keeping on!

           One of my nicest poetry prompters is Laura Shovan, on her way to publishing a middle school verse novel, and celebrating her birthday month each year with a poetic challenge. This year, it was all about sounds, one of the sweetest devices in poetry, if you can manage them. Today Laura is our host for Poetry Friday! She blogs at Author Amok where you can find all the other wonderful Poetry Friday writers.  Thanks for hosting, Laura.

           I wrote a poem today for one of my grandfathers. Thinking of and writing about him connects me to today, Friday the 13th, this Poetry Friday. My grandfather was superstitious to the degree that I listened carefully to his tales and believed them. Sometimes actions show that I still do. Spilled salt, over the left shoulder. Never walk under a ladder.